“The increase in waiting lists is not due to a reduction in the responsiveness of the National Health Service (SNS). On the contrary, it results from a growth in supply that, although continuous, still does not fully keep pace with the expansion of demand,” states the office of Minister Ana Paula Martins in a response.
According to monitoring by the Health Regulatory Entity (ERS) on waiting times in the SNS for the first half of 2025, by the end of June, 974,770 patients were awaiting a first consultation in public hospitals, marking a 25.6% increase compared to the first half of 2024.
The increase coincides with a period in which, according to the Ministry of Health, 766,911 hospital consultations were conducted, a rise of 3.8% compared to the same period in 2024.
“These results were achieved in a context where the increase in human resources did not exceed 2.3%, highlighting efficiency gains in the use of available resources,” the ministry adds, noting that, on the other hand, “the growth in demand was even greater.”
According to the same source, the number of consultation requests increased by 4.9%, reflecting “the aging population, a significant increase in registered residents in the SNS, and greater citizen awareness of access to care.”
In their response, the Ministry of Health also notes that the new National System for Access to Consultation and Surgery aims to improve the management of waiting lists.
